Sceptical

Parliament is in uproar. Yesterday the Speaker of the House, Lindsay Hoyle, broke convention and allowed the Labour Party to submit an amendment to the SNP motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hoyle was formerly a Labour MP and some Tories are suggesting he failed to act impartially as is required of the Speaker. They have called for a vote of no confidence in him.

However I read today that Keir Starmer had asked Hoyle to allow the amendment because he feared that without it some of his MPs would be at risk of attacks by Muslim extremists. If that is true, it is very worrying. If a minority of extremists can bully MPs into a particular course of action, what becomes of democracy?

#politics

Prince William has waded into the Israel – Hamas conflict, calling for a humanitarian cease fire. Whilst his statement has no doubt been made with the best of intentions he really should steer clear of the subject. It is a toxic debate, and he will upset people on both sides of the argument.

#politics #royalty

Monday 08 January 2024

We're back to the maxim if you've nothing to hide you've nothing to fear.

The Horizon IT scandal has been brought to the fore by the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Ordinary people whose lives were destroyed by a faulty computer system. These people had nothing to hide, but they had plenty to fear from an overbearing Post Office.

#society

While it is a mistake to assume that the mob preys only on Jews, the Jews must be accorded first place among its favourite victims.

The Origins of Totalitarianism ~ Hannah Arendt

#quote #antisemitism

22:56:42

As well as Paris, there was another terrorist attack on Sunday, this one taking place in Marawi in the Philippines. A Catholic Church, with people attending Mass, was the target of a bombing, which killed at least 4 and injured 50 others. Today Islamic State claimed responsibility. The attack caused barely a ripple in the MSN.

#journal #terrorism #islam

16:15:35

Another terrorist attack, again in Paris. One man dead, two injured. The assailant shouted 'alluh akbar' as he did his work. He was later apprehended, and explained he did what he did because he was upset by the deaths of Muslims in Palestine and Afghanistan.

What did you expect? When you allow scorpions into your home, it is inevitable they will bite you.

#journal #terrorism

22:29:02

More pro-Palestinian marches in a number of cities across the country today, calling once more for a ceasefire. It seems they have failed to notice it was Hamas who broke the last ceasefire, although of course that is not really what they want is it? Their goals are altogether more baleful; they want to see the destruction of Israel, the annihilation of the Jews. They are barbarians.

Am Yisrael Chai.

#journal #terrorism

11:34:25

The Israel – Hamas ceasefire ended this morning. Terrorists killed a couple of people in Jerusalem yesterday, and this morning Hamas launched missiles towards the Israeli city of Sderot. Not surprisingly, the way the media report such things, you would think it was Israel that broke the ceasefire. Such is the way at the moment.

11:39:29

Owen Jones (the Guardian journalist, described by Ed Balls as a second rate intellectual), has seen the Hamas videos of their slaughter of the innocents on the 7th October, and has produced his own video in which he casts doubt on the brutality inflicted on the victims. I have always thought of him as a pip squeak, but I much prefer a description I saw yesterday, in response to his video: shit weasel. He really is an odious individual.

#journal #society #terrorism

10:50:42

Hamas still hold about 130 hostages, seized from Israel last month, and for the moment the cease fire is holding.

On October 7th, Hamas crossed the border into Israel and slaughtered 1400+ innocent civilians, children, babies, the elderly amongst them. Before Israel had even launched its response, Palestinian supporters were on the streets of cities around the world, celebrating Hamas' strike for freedom. Even as the video footage taken by the terrorists was published, and which showed the sickening depravity of the butchery, the pro-Palestinian marches continued. Their supporters try to justify the killings as a response to Israeli occupation, while others claim it was the Israeli's themselves who carried out the attacks.

Since the slaughter reports of antisemitism in this country have reached unprecedented levels. Massive demonstrations have taken place in London, with the crowds calling for jihad and the destruction of Israel. British Jews no longer feel safe on the streets of our capital. Week after week, the marches take place, and nothing is done in response to the hatred some of the protestors spew. And so they become more brazen.

Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented

Elie Wiesel

Today we learn that a council in east London has scrapped plans to install a Chanukkah menorah for fear of “inflaming community tensions”. The Metropolitan police meanwhile warn the public to be vigilant before Christmas fearing a terrorist attack. So much for our lauded multi-cultural society.

The barbarians are amongst us, and given half a chance they will slaughter more innocents. For the sake of clarity, by they I mean Islamist Fundamentalists. Theirs is the only religion which is so profoundly violent that it seeks to destroy all non-believers. Whose supporters bully and cow their opponents and whose adherents think nothing of butchering innocent people.

11:45:04

The response of some (many) to the 7th October massacre in Middle Eastern countries was predictable. But to see the same reaction here in the UK has shocked me. I begin to see now parallels with 1930's Germany, and to be frank it is deeply worrying. Whatever else, we must maintain our support for the Jewish people of this country.

For evil to flourish, it only requires good men to do nothing

Simon Wiesenthal

#journal #society #terrorism

What is a woman? People in the future will read this and think what a ridiculous question.

But here we are, in an era when men are competing in women's sport, where men claim to have periods, where men think they can breast feed children. The men in question are in fact transwomen, and they would have you believe transwomen are women. Taking that train of thought to its ultimate destination leads certain adherents to the idea that transwomen should be able to breast feed a child.

If you dare question this narrative you are accused of being transphobic, which could in turn lead to the police investigating you for a hate crime, the risk of losing your job and the chance your bank could close your account without notice.

The fundamental problem arises from the use of the word woman. The definition of a woman, as accepted by most right minded people, is of a female human being.

A man can never be a woman, no matter what drugs are taken or what surgery they undergo.

It's time we called an end to this nonsense. Leave women to be women, and transfolk, stop pretending to be something you are not and never can be.

#society